Make a surfactant. WHAT IS A SURFACTANT YOU ASK? Surfactants work by reducing the surface tension of water. If you’ve seen water droplets bead up on a hydrophobic surface, like the hood of a freshly waxed car, you’ve seen surface tension in action by the ‘bubbles’/ beads of water that appear. To reduce this, you will need to spray your mold with a surfactant, which wets the surface and creates improved contact between the plaster and the surface of the mold, making it bubble free.To make a surfactant, place ½ Windex and ½ water into a spray bottle. Shake to mix and spray your mold. If there are deep cavities in the mold, turn the mold upside down before pouring in your plaster to drain any excess liquid.

The molds will need to have support. Placing your mold into a cup or a bowl for support works well.

Do not over fill your molds. Fill just “shy” from the top.

If you are having a difficult time removing your element, warm the plastic up by using a warm blow dryer.

Reinforce fragile parts of the mold. Some molds have fragile areas that may break easily when removed. While plaster is still wet reinforce the element with something like a toothpick or popsicle stick to keep your piece from breaking. For larger molds use fibers to reinforce your cast pieces.

HOW TO KEEP YOUR MOLDS LEVEL FOR CASTING BY USING Jig Feet

Jig Feet are used to keep the mold level so that the plaster will flow evenly.

As shown in this photo, place the Jig Feet equally as possible on the underside of the mold to maintain a level pouring surface into the mold cavity.

You can buy the mold to create Jig Feet from Elite Artistry, LLC under the tab-- Shop Molds. When casting be sure to fill each cavity to the exact same level.

***SOME molds can be easily placed inside of a bowl or cup to stabilizes and keep level. But, for the larger molds Jig Feet are the best method.​

How to mix plaster, using the old-fashioned landfill method. This is the easiest way to mix. The manufacturers recommend that you mix plaster by weight. For example—5 lbs water to 8 lbs. plaster. To alleviate all the measuring, the landfill method, is the easiest and nearly fail proof.

Estimate the volume of water that you will need—approx. 2/3 the air space.

Sift plaster into water (not the reverse).

Keep sifting without stirring.

Keep adding the sifted plaster until the entire surface of your container is covered with a mud-like coating. (It should look like a puddle of mud that has been drying in the sun.) This is called the landfill method.

Let sit for a several minutes. If the landfill should sink, or not soak up all the water, add more plaster now. Do not stir until it’s ready and all the water is absorbed in the landfill, about 3 to 5 minutes. (If you’ve had to add more plaster, let the plaster sit for a few more minutes). Hint—do not get impatient.

Now stir the mixture thoroughly without whipping it. (If you whip the plaster it will create air bubbles, which will destroy cast pieces). The mixture should be pourable – about the consistency of thick pancake batter—not thin.

The plaster should be poured immediately after mixing.

After the molds are poured, tap the mold to knock out air bubbles.

As plaster cures, it becomes very hot. (Never attempt to cast body parts with plaster—you would lose them!)

When the plaster is cool to the touch and no moisture is left, the pieces can be carefully taken out of the mold.

How to mix plaster, using the old-fashioned landfill method. This is the easiest way to mix. The manufacturers recommend that you mix plaster by weight. For example—5 lbs water to 8 lbs. plaster. To alleviate all the measuring, the landfill method, is the easiest and nearly fail proof.

Estimate the volume of water that you will need—approx. 2/3 the air space.

Sift plaster into water (not the reverse).

Keep sifting without stirring.

Keep adding the sifted plaster until the entire surface of your container is covered with a mud-like coating. (It should look like a puddle of mud that has been drying in the sun.) This is called the landfill method.

Let sit for a several minutes. If the landfill should sink, or not soak up all the water, add more plaster now. Do not stir until it’s ready and all the water is absorbed in the landfill, about 3 to 5 minutes. (If you’ve had to add more plaster, let the plaster sit for a few more minutes). Hint—do not get impatient.

Now stir the mixture thoroughly without whipping it. (If you whip the plaster it will create air bubbles, which will destroy cast pieces). The mixture should be pourable – about the consistency of thick pancake batter—not thin.

The plaster should be poured immediately after mixing.

After the molds are poured, tap the mold to knock out air bubbles.

As plaster cures, it becomes very hot. (Never attempt to cast body parts with plaster—you would lose them!)

When the plaster is cool to the touch and no moisture is left, the pieces can be carefully taken out of the mold.